Canadiens vs Blackhawks Player Props: Caufield Without Suzuki
Updated October 23, 2026
Updated October 23, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, October 23, and suddenly, there's a much bigger question surrounding Montreal's offense.
Nick Suzuki is out for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury, ending his remarkable streak of 546 consecutive games. The Canadiens have lost their captain, leading scorer and the player responsible for creating so many of their best offensive opportunities.
That puts Cole Caufield in an interesting position. He's already scored six goals in nine games, and against a Chicago team allowing four goals per game, there's reason to believe he can add another.
But with Oliver Kapanen replacing Suzuki on Montreal's top line, I'm not convinced his recent scoring pace will continue quite so easily.
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Montreal enters Friday's matchup as the favorite on Kalshi and Polymarket. However, Suzuki's absence makes this a less straightforward contest than it initially appeared.
Chicago has struggled defensively, conceding 36 goals through nine games. The Blackhawks were also shut out 4-0 by Dallas in their most recent appearance, with Spencer Knight allowing four goals on 32 shots.
The game-result contracts are available on both prediction-market platforms. For player props, I'm focusing on Caufield's anytime-goal market, although an active contract and its price have not yet been verified.
Caufield has six goals through nine games, including four in his last five appearances. His recent production includes two goals against Buffalo on October 17 and another against San Jose three days later.
That follows a remarkable 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 51 goals in 81 games.
There's little doubt about his finishing ability, and the underlying shot volume remains encouraging. Caufield has registered 32 shots this season, averaging 3.56 per game.
That's important because his scoring isn't simply the result of one or two fortunate opportunities. He's regularly finding himself in positions to finish chances, and Chicago has allowed an average of 30.6 shots per game.
The concern is that Caufield has enjoyed considerable success alongside Suzuki, whose ability to create space and deliver passes has been central to Montreal's offense.
Without him, Caufield may have to manufacture more of those opportunities himself.
Montreal's Thursday practice provided our first indication of how head coach Martin St. Louis intends to replace Suzuki.
Oliver Kapanen practiced between Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský, creating a new-look first line ahead of Friday's game.
Kapanen brings defensive awareness and works hard without the puck. What he doesn't bring is Suzuki's established offensive chemistry with Caufield.
That matters for a goalscorer who has been particularly effective finding open ice and converting chances created by his captain.
Still, the injury could encourage Caufield to take greater responsibility offensively. He's already averaging nearly 20 minutes per appearance, and I wouldn't be surprised if Montreal continues looking to him whenever it needs a goal.
His finishing ability hasn't suddenly disappeared because Suzuki is unavailable.
The Blackhawks enter Friday with a 3-6-0 record and one of the NHL's poorest defensive starts.
They've conceded four goals per game, while projected starter Spencer Knight owns a .888 save percentage and a 3.59 goals-against average.
Bowen Byram is also dealing with an upper-body injury and has missed Chicago's last two games. His status remains worth watching before puck drop.
If Caufield continues generating opportunities at his usual rate, Chicago looks like the kind of opponent he can punish.
The Canadiens haven't been particularly convincing defensively either, allowing 34 goals in nine games. That should give Chicago opportunities of its own and potentially encourage a more open contest.
Lane Hutson — 1+ Point
Hutson has recorded nine points, including seven assists, through nine games. He's averaging more than 26 minutes of ice time and remains central to Montreal's offensive buildup.
Suzuki's absence creates some uncertainty around the power play, but Hutson should continue playing significant minutes. I prefer his points market over an anytime-goal position.
Patrick Kane — 1+ Assist
Kane has registered four assists through nine appearances and continues to play alongside Connor Bedard on Chicago's top line.
Montreal's defensive struggles make him interesting, especially if Chicago gets several power-play opportunities. However, Kane's early production doesn't justify an aggressive entry price.
Neither alternative has a verified live player-prop price, so I'm not forcing a second recommendation.
Montreal's expected top line features Caufield, Kapanen and Slafkovský, based on Thursday's practice.
Chicago's recent first-line combination has featured Roman Kantserov, Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane, while Anton Frondell has centered Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen.
Jacob Fowler is projected to start for Montreal, with Spencer Knight expected in goal for Chicago. These are projections rather than confirmed starting assignments.
The Canadiens will be without Suzuki and Ivan Demidov, while Chicago continues to monitor Byram's availability.
Montréal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks
| Sportsbook | CHI | MTL |
|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | 42.0¢ | 59.0¢ |
| Polymarket | 42.9¢ | 58.0¢ |
| Sportsbook | CHI | MTL |
|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | +1.5 66.0¢ | -1.5 35.0¢ |
| Polymarket | +1.5 65.0¢ | -1.5 37.0¢ |
